No one had called me Melissa in months. Hearing my name was something I took for granted before I was out of work. But now I wasn’t spending time with the people who know me as Melissa: my co-workers, fellow writers, and friends.

I had been at home with my two children for months. Evan, age nine, and Delaney, six, call me Mom or Mama. And I realize that I am fortunate to have wonderful little people in my life who call me Mama — even at 2:00 a.m. when one of them is sick.

Something happened when I stopped hearing my name, though. It became a whole other type of isolation. Before I became Mrs. Face or Mama, I was Melissa.

I never really had a problem with my name. I never considered a name change. Even as an adult, I have never thought a different name would suit me better. I am Melissa, and my name is a big part of my identity.

After a few months at home, I decided to do something just for me. I signed up for a writing class that I’d wanted to take for a long time. Before I became a housewife, I couldn’t get to the class because of childcare concerns. But now I was so excited to be enrolled in the class. At our first session, the instructor began class by addressing us all by name and introducing our first prompt.

“I want you to start by writing’ Right now, I am,’ and then continue with whatever follows that.” she said.

I started writing my piece.Ten minutes later, she asked us to begin sharing. “Melissa, we’ll start with you,” my teacher said.

I cleared my throat and read my first line. “Right now, I am happy,” I said. “I’m happy to be interacting with other adults, happy to be writing, and especially happy to hear my name.”

Bruce Campbell, a retired electrical engineer, wanted to change the behavior of mankind by showing how we can recycle old things into new and practical and livable ones.

For about $220,000, he purchased a Greek airliner — a Boeing 727-400 — that logged about 40,000 flights in its peak. Before Campbell got his hands on his Boeing 727 and transformed it into the airplane home he lives in, this aircraft saw regular use as it transported all kinds of people to all sorts of destinations.

After the successful transform, he hosted a big DJ dance party with a couple of friends. The party, called Turbulence: A Dance Party at a 727 in the Woods, happened right on the wing! Guests who attended the party also got the opportunity to take a look at the airplane home. Overall, they got the attention of 14,000 Facebook users who were interested in what sounded like an incredible party.

This talented engineer got another airliner and started on his second airplane home during the beginning of 2018 on the Kyushu Island coast because he wanted it to serve as a safe place for the local community as well. Part of Bruce Campbell’s vision was to make an airliner that doubled as a lifeboat in case tsunami (海啸) threats were issued. He wanted the general public to find out that planes are capable of surviving hundreds of years and the cruelest weather conditions thanks to its sealed pressure technology.

Campbell adored the excitement that he received when he recycled airplanes and hoped that people would seriously consider it after they got the chance to see his home during tours and events. He has posted on his website that it is his goal to “inspire a renaissance (复兴) of thought about how to employ this remarkable resource”.

Juliette Brindak started a social networking site for teens when she was 16, and it’s doing better than ever. Miss O And Friends has 10 million monthly visits, a twenty-fold increase from its start in 2005. It’s also worth around $15 million, according to the supporting company Procter & Gamble.

When she was ten, Brindak drew characters for a set of five friends she called “Cool Girls,” who were all inspired by real-life girls. The main cool girl, Miss O, represents her younger sister Olivia. The set of “Cool Girls” would in the end become Miss O And Friends. In the beginning, like many start-ups, Brindak reached out to family members and friends for support in money. Her mother, a graphic (绘画的) designer, brought her drawings to life while her father, who has a background in business, offered help in the basic things of creating the company.

The site became popular and was the third largest girls-only website in 2011, according to Inc Magazine. Now, at 30, Brindak isn’t in tune with what teen girls are looking for, so she uses the site as a route to understand their needs. Through polls, quizzes, and the “Girl2GirlWall”, Brindak could keep herself updated.

Through high school and college, the site has continued to improve. When it was originally started, there was little more than a few attractive graphics. “There was a homepage, which had the five Miss O characters and simple flash animations,” Brindak says. “There was hardly anything to it, but it was definitely a start.” Now the site is proud of having message boards, quizzes, games, music, and more.

“I was able to learn so much about cultures around the world and also become informed and aware of different ways that I can reach out to women.” Brindak says. “The goal for the site was, and still is, to help young girls build confidence and pride in themselves,” “We started off with a business plan that we have used as our guide, but that business plan is always changing. We continue to find new ways to attract girls, and create new markets that are suitable for Miss O and out community.”